iN NUMBERS: Snowpack and water flow in Southern Interior

What is the first thing you think of when you think of spring? Sunny days? Spring cleaning?

Snowpack and water flow might not be top of mind but these numbers give a hint at how the lakes, rivers and streams in the Thompson-Okanagan region will be impact this summer.

Here are some figures from the International Osoyoos Lake Board of Control in case you’re curious about how the melting snowpacks impact water levels:

• 17: Million litres of water flow into the Okanagan basin each year
• 86: Percentage of the streamflow of water into the Okanagan Basin between March and July
• 7: Centimetres of water level rise in Okanagan Lake from April 18 to 25
• 5: Centimetres of water level rise in Kalamalka Lake from April 18 to 25
• 6: Centimetres of water level rise in the Thompson River from April 18 to 25
• 82: Percentage of normal snowpack in the Okanagan this year
• 63: Percentage of normal snowpack in Similkameen this year
• 84: Per cent of normal snowpack in Thompson this year
• 277: Metres of depth in Osoyoos Lake
• 341: Metres of depth expected in Okanagan Lake this year
• 1: Million acre-feet of water flow in the Similkameen River is the threshold for a drought, and for some reason that’s still the metric rather than, you know, the metric system.
• 1,233,489: Million litres is a million acre-feet, which to be fair, doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.